‘Enemy’ Strike Hits Iran’s Sirik Near Strait of Hormuz, Raising Fears of Wider Conflict

Image: Collected

Iranian state media said Thursday that an “enemy” strike had hit Sirik County on the country’s southern coast in Hormozgan province, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The report came amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington and sent oil prices higher.

What Iran reported

Iran’s official IRNA news agency, citing official sources, said the strike was “military in nature” but did not identify the attacker, the target, the weapon used, or any damage or casualties. The report could not be independently confirmed.

Earlier, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said residents had heard several consecutive explosions in eastern Hormozgan. It initially said the cause was unclear, while some sources suggested the blasts could have been warning shots directed at vessels allegedly violating maritime rules.

Why Sirik matters

Sirik lies on Iran’s southern coast, east of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and carries a major share of the world’s seaborne oil. Any reported military activity near the strait can quickly affect shipping, insurance costs and global energy markets.

Oil futures extended gains after IRNA’s report, according to Al Jazeera’s live coverage.

A volatile week

The reported strike followed a week of escalating incidents in and around the waterway. Iran’s military said explosions had hit four oil tankers over two days and blamed naval mines, while Iranian state media also reported an attack on “enemy navigation systems” on Didamar island.

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington would not hesitate to use force against Iran again, while a senior Iranian armed forces spokesman said any new US attack would trigger a response “10 times” more severe.

Diplomacy remains stalled

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran had sent its response to the latest US proposals through Qatar, adding that the next move belonged to Washington. Iran has reportedly demanded the lifting of a naval blockade and sanctions, as well as the release of frozen assets.

Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei repeated that Iran would not send its enriched uranium abroad and warned that, if attacked, Iran could strike US bases well beyond the region, including in Europe.

No government had publicly claimed responsibility for the Sirik strike as of Thursday night.